Chair and table assembly

ABSTRACT

A folding combination chair and table assembly including a seat mounted on support legs and a back rest mounted on a support which is continuous with one of the legs; the back rest capable of rotation about said support such that in one position it forms a back rest and in another a bench or a table; wherein said back rest is supported by the support at a side edge of the back rest and wherein the support is disposed at a location which allows a person seated on the chair to adopt a first seated position in which the person back engages the back rest and a second seated position in which wherein the person may use the backrest as a table and rotate his or her legs from said first position to the second position without obstruction by said rest support member.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to seats and more particularly relates tocombined seat and table assemblies capable of movement between a chairconfiguration and a chair table configuration for performing differentfunctions. More particularly the invention relates to a chair tableassembly in which the chair back converts to a table allowing a user toassume a repose from a position in which the user leans on a back restand rotate to a position in which the user may employ the back rest as atable without leg obstruction.

PRIORT ART

There are already in existence a variety of bench seats which canconvert from one working configuration into another workingconfiguration. In order to achieve an edge over competitors, seatmanufacturers have made attempts produce seats and seat assemblies whichconvert into an alternative configuration to satisfy an ancillary oralternative purpose.

An example of a known seat assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,882,069 which allows a user to arrange the seat unit described into anumber of positions for different uses. When use of the seat is desiredthe back section is oriented so that it is approximately perpendicularto the approximately horizontal orientation of the seat section. Whenthe use wishes to re orientate the direction in which the use is sittingthe support arm is pivoted around the base and the back section inrotated around the support arm. This rearrangement reverses theorientation of the chair unit formed by the seat section and backsection. Alternatively the back section may be rotated so that its rearsurface is in an upwardly facing horizontal orientation. Also the seatback section may simultaneously be placed in vertical orientations.Although, this chair has a number of advantages due to its versatility,it has a disadvantage that the user cannot take advantage of the naturalchair table configuration where the user has the table in front withoutthe user having to leave the seat before changing to the desired chairtable configuration. In the invention described in that patent, the usermay change an adjacent back rest to form a side table and although itmay be possible to form a support with the back rest of the seat theuser is seated on the table shown would be positioned awkwardly so as tocause discomfort to the user.

UK Patent 2166947 discloses a foldable seat arrangement havingtransverse seat members and transverse back rest table top memberscarried on transversely spaced folding frames. In one position, thebackrest transverse members are supported as an upright backrest forseated persons. In another position the backrest transverse members aresupported by props from rearwardly inclined backrest supports in ahorizontal table top posture. As with the known seating assemblies ofthis type the use must leave the seat temporarily to reseat at180-degrees to face the reconfigured back portion forming a table. Theuser cannot swivel in the same seated position to face the table due tothe obstruction caused by the backrest.

French specification 2748377 discloses an alternative chair assemblywhich includes a back rest which converts into a table top. In use, aperson seated on the chair must in order to face the backrest whenconverted to a table top leave the seat and reposition to face thetable. This is necessitated due to the obstructions caused by the backrest supports which prevent a user from rotating 180 to adopt thecorrect repose for sitting at the table. In the seating assemblydescribed, the users legs must straddle the back rest supports which isnot an ideal seating arrangement. Also adopting and withdrawing from theseating position is awkward as one or other of the users legs mustnegotiate the back rest support struts.

Australian patent specification 27511/88 discloses a chair tablecombination comprising a seat raised above the ground on legs with asupport connected to the seat to which is connected a panel pivotallyconnected to the support and adjustable between a fist mode in which thepanel serves as a back rest for the seat and a second mode in which thepanel serves as working surface.

As with the earlier examples described, the back rest support providesan obstruction for the user of the chair table combination. A personseated on the chair must in order to face the back rest when convertedto a table top leave the seat and reposition to face the table. This isnecessitated due to the obstruction caused by the centrally disposedback rest support which prevents a user from rotating 180 to adopt thecorrect repose for sitting at the table. In the seating assemblydescribed, the users legs must straddle the central back rest supportwhich is not an ideal seating arrangement. Also adopting and withdrawingfrom the seating position is awkward as one or other of the users legsmust negotiate the back rest support.

INVENTION

The present invention provides an alternative to the known chair tablecombinations with more simple construction and allowing a user seated onthe chair to face a table surface without obstructions to the leg andwithout leaving the chair.

In one broad form the present invention comprises:

-   -   a folding combination chair and table assembly including a seat        mounted on support legs and a back rest mounted on a support        which is continuous with one said legs; the back rest capable of        rotation about said support such that in one position it forms a        back rest and in another a bench or table; wherein said back        rest is supported by said support and wherein said support is        disposed at a location which allows a person seated on the chair        to adopt a first seated position in which the persons back        engages said back rest and a second seated position wherein the        person may adjust then use the back rest as a table and rotate        his or her legs from said first seated position to said second        seated position without obstruction by said back rest support        member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the chair table assembly, thesupport member is integral with said one said legs and which terminatesin a free end. Preferably the back rest is rotatable about alongitudinal axis of said free end of said support. The support islocated generally in a plane normal to a plane of said seat and the backrest is releasably attached to said free end of said support which isdisposed normal to the remainder of said support.

According to one embodiment, the legs of the chair are capable ofpivoting relative to each other.

The chair preferably has two legs the first of which comprises a squaremember and the second comprising a square member which is dimensioned tofit within the boundaries of said first leg; wherein, said first legincludes integral with one side an extension forming said support.

The support ideally has an angle of repose which is the same as theangle of repose of said first leg but the back rest may be disposed atan angle parallel to said support or at an angle relative to the angleof the support. A face of said back rest provides an upper surface ofsaid table.

The back rest includes an opening which receives and retains the freeend of the support with the free end including a formation which enablessaid back rest to be releasably retained by said support.

The formation allows rotation of said back rest through at least 60degrees and up to 360 degrees depending upon the mechanical arrangementbetween the back rest and free end of the support. The back support isdisposed so as to allow a user to rotate 180 degrees from the firstseated position to the second position facing the table surface andwithout obstruction from the support.

In another broad form the present invention comprises;

-   -   a folding combination chair and table assembly including a seat        mounted on support legs and a back rest mounted on a support        which is continuous with one said legs; the back rest capable of        rotation about said support such that in one position it forms a        back rest and in another a bench or table; wherein said back        rest is supported by said support and wherein said support is        disposed at a location which allows a person seated on the chair        to adopt a first seated position in which the persons back        engages said back rest and a second seated position wherein the        person may adjust then use the back rest as a table and rotate        his or her legs from said first seated position to said second        seated position without obstruction by said back rest support        member; wherein the assembly further includes a mechanism which        provides a restriction of rotation of said back rest relative to        said support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described in more detail according toa preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to theaccompanying illustrations; wherein

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a combination chair table assemblyaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side profile of the chair table combination of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the profile of FIG. 2 with back rest converted to a table;and

FIG. 4 shows the chair table combination of FIG. 3 in the foldedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a formation on a free end of the backrest support which enables adjustment of the back rest from back rest totable top.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a folding chair and table assembly 1including a seat 2 mounted on support legs 3 and 4. The assembly furthercomprises a back rest 5 mounted on a support 6 which is integral andcontinuous with one said leg 4. Support 6 terminates in free end 7 ofsupport 6 which receives and retains back rest 5. Back rest 5 is capableof rotation about said free end 7 of support 6 such that in one positionsurface 8 forms a back rest surface and in another position a bench ortable surface. Back rest 5 is supported by support 6 at a side edge 9 ofthe back rest. Side edge 9 includes an opening 10 which allows passagetherethrough of free end 7. Free end 7 includes a formation whichenables back rest 5 to rotate about an axis along free end 7 through atleast 180 degrees. This enables a user of the assembly to set back rest5 as a back rest or a table surface. As shown in FIG. 1, support 6 islocated laterally of seat 2 and at a location which allows a personseated on the chair to adopt a first seated position in which thepersons back engages back rest surface 8 and a second seated positionwherein the person may use the back rest surface 8 as a table when theback rest 5 is rotated through about 30-45 degrees in the direction ofarrow 14. The user may adopt a position facing the table surface fromthe seating position without having to leave the seat and by rotatinghis or her legs from the first seated position to the second seatedposition without obstruction by back rest support member 6. Previouslythis has not been possible with the prior art arrangements as the latterall require the user to leave the seated position and negotiate supportswith the users legs to adopt a position facing a table surface providedby rotating the back rest. According to a preferred embodiment of thechair table assembly 1, the support member is integral with leg 4. Leg 4is preferably a generally square member which is proportioned to receivein pivotal engagement leg 3 which itself is a generally square memberproportioned to fit inside the opening defined by leg 4. Leg 3 ispivotally attached to leg 4 via pivots 11 and 12 and this enables thelegs to move relative to each other to enable folding of the chair tableassembly 1. Support 6 is located generally in a plane normal to a planeof seat 2 and the back rest is releasably attached to said free end 7 ofsupport 6. Free end 7 is preferably disposed normal to a longitudinalaxis of support 6 as a return cantilevered from support 6. In analternative embodiment, a back surface 13 of back rest 5 may bepresented as a table surface rather than surface 8. The user may choosewhich of surfaces 8 or 13 is used for the back surface provided theengaging formation on free end 7 is adapted to allow 360 degreerotation.

Support 6 ideally has an angle of repose which is the same as the angleof repose of leg 4. but the back rest 5 may be disposed parallel to leg4 or at an angle relative to the angle of the support. A face of theback rest provides an upper surface of the table. The back support isdisposed so as to allow a user to rotate 180 degrees from the firstseated position to the second position facing the table surface aboutthe axis indicted by arrow 24 ( see FIG. 1) and without obstruction theuser by the support when assuming the table position and when at thetable.

FIG. 2 shows a side profile of the chair table combination of FIG. 1. Inthat configuration, back rest 5 is disposed in general alignment withsupport 6 to enable back support of a use in a conventional manner. FIG.3 shows the profile of FIG. 2 with back rest 5 converted such thatsurface 8 which previously acted as a back rest is now a table top. FIG.4 shows the chair table combination of FIG. 3 in the foldedconfiguration and with back rest 5 returned to the seatingconfiguration.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a locking mechanism according to oneembodiment of the invention. The arrangement includes formation 18 on anexploded free end 7 of the back rest support which enables adjustment ofthe back rest from a back rest to table top. Depending upon how theformation is arranged the user may be restricted according to oneembodiment to a back rest rotation in a first direction of rotation ofno more than 60 degrees from a back support angle to a horizontaldisposition forming a table. Alternatively, the formation may allow forrotation in an opposite direction of up to 130 degrees. Furthermore, theformation allows for the back rest to be totally removed, rotated andthen replaced to allow the user to choose surface 8 or 13 as the tabletop. The arrangement of FIG. 3 shows the back rest 5 rotated throughapproximately 130 degrees as indicated by arrow 16 of FIG. 2 and arrow17 of FIG. 1 so that surface 13 acts as a table top. Alternatively, backrest 5 may be rotated 360 degrees on said free end of said support.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 allows up to 360 degrees rotation of the backrest 5 when free of locking dowel 21. Back rest 5 includes a retainingmember which may be formed from a tube 24. Tube 24 is fixedly attachedto back rest 5 and includes formation 18 comprising cut out portions 19and 20 which receive respective ends 25 and 26 of locking dowel 21 whichis mounted on bolt 22. Back rest S is fed along free end 7 until lockingdowel 21 engages cut outs 19 and 20 whereupon the back rest may berotated until it is in either the back rest or table configuration. Backrest 5 may be rotated in either direction as shown by arrow 23 butmovement will be restricted by locking dowel 21. According to oneembodiment each recess may include a protrusion which provides positivelocking of locking dowel 21. For example recess 19 includes protrusion27 which engages end 26 of locking dowel 15 when it engages recess 19.This allows back rest 5 to locate in position. The configuration of therecess 19 and 20 may be arranged to accommodate the required degree ofrotation of the back rest and its utility as either a table or backrest.

It will be recognized by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and modifications may be made to the invention as broadlydescribed herein without departing from the overall spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A folding combination chair and table assembly comprising a seatmounted on a plurality support legs and a back rest mounted on a supportwhich is continuous with one of said legs; the back rest capable ofrotation about said support such that in one position it forms a backrest and in a second position, a bench or table; wherein said back restis supported by said support at a side edge of the back rest and whereinsaid support is disposed at a location which allows a person seated onthe chair to adopt a first seated position in which the persons backengages said back rest and a second seated position wherein the personmay use the back rest as a table and rotate his or her legs from saidfirst seated position to said second seated position without obstiuctionby said back rest support member; wherein said support member isintegral with one of said legs and which terminates in a free end andlocated generally in a plane parallel to a plane of said seat; whereinthe back rest is releasably attached to said free end of said supportand rotatable about a longitudinal axis of and attached to said freeend; wherein said back rest may be disposed at an angle parallel to saidsupport or at an angle relative to the angle of said support; said struthaving an angle of repose which is substantially the same as the angleof repose of said first leg and wherein a face of said back restprovides an upper surface of said table.
 2. The chair table assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein said beck rest futher comprising an openingwhich recieves and retains said free end of said support.
 3. The chairtable assembly according to claim 2 wherein free end of said supportfurther comprises a formation which enables said back rest to bereleasably retained by said support.
 4. The chair table assemblyaccording to claim 3 wherein said back rest may rotate relative to saidsupport up to 360 degrees.
 5. The chair table assembly according toclaim 4 wherein said formation on said free end comprises a lockingdowel whose ends engage a corresponding recess formed in a memberattached to said back rest.
 6. The chair table assembly according toclaim 5 wherein said cut out portions are arranged to allow apredetermined degree of rotation of said back rest about said free endwhen said cut out portions engage with said locking dowel.
 7. The chairtable assembly according to claim 6 wherein said locking dowel governsdegree of rotation of said back rest by engagement with an edge of saidcut out portions; wherein the cut out portions are disposedcircumferentially about said member attached to said back rest.
 8. Thechair table assembly according to claim 7 wherein said back support isdisposed relative to said seat so as to allow a user to rotate 180degrees from said first seated position to said second position facingsaid table surface and without obstruction from said support.